Samantha Seaburn
Name: Samantha Seaburn
Team: Shenango
Number: #22
Grade: 12
Height: 5' 10''
Weight: N/A
Position: G
By Andrew Koob
New Castle News

Samantha Seaburn has played a key role in a some key achievements for the Shenango High girls basketball team.

As a sophomore, she was the second-leading scorer in the program’s first section victory in 44 games, a drought that lasted more than three years.

More recently, Seaburn was one of three seniors to score in double-digits in the Lady Wildcats’ first victory over Neshannock in 11 years. That performance was preceded by a 25-point performance in a win over Beaver Falls, tying a season-high mark.

Seaburn may be the one headlining the box scores — yet, in her eyes, it’s the entire team that should be taking the credit.

“I don’t think one person wins or loses the game,” Seaburn said. “If someone makes a game-winning shot, you don’t say they won the game and if they miss it, you don’t say they lost it. There are 32 minutes to play as a team. For me to stand out here to say ‘it was all me that got the points and rebounds’ would be a selfish act on my part.”

Despite that team-first mentality, it’s hard to ignore Seaburn’s individual impact on the Lady Wildcats’ (4-2 section 1-AA, 7-4 overall) success this season.

Seaburn’s scoring average has taken a major leap from a year prior. After averaging 11.5 points per game, sixth in the county and first on the team, Seaburn is totaling another team-high with 16.2 points per contest.

That jump in scoring is, in the eyes of Shenango coach Jason Rankin, a result of a confidence boost and an offense that can play the strengths of Seaburn.

“I think the biggest thing was playing with a little more open style,” Rankin said. “She’s athletic and plays multiple sports, so the fact that we’re able to get up and down the floor a little bit more, apply a little more pressure and give her a chance to play in the open court gives her a chance to score points.

“She’s always been a good rebounder, I think the biggest thing was just building confidence in that, if you make a mistake, just play through it. You can stretch your shooting range, you can do different things beyond being a rebounder. I think the combination of all of those things has given her a little more confidence to play with more abandonment, a little more comfort.”

The family mindset has propelled not only Seaburn in her final scholastic season, but all of the Lady Wildcats as they pursue their third playoff appearance in as many years, and possibly even more.

“As a team, we knew we could always be here,” Seaburn said. “We just needed to gain the confidence and I think, this year, we just gelled together and became a family. When you play as a family, no one can beat you. You’re unstoppable, even if you do get beat on the court.”

It’s something that was apparent, even before Rankin was named the head coach in July. The team, led by the four seniors in Seaburn, Angelina Sibeto, Carolyn Peterson and Emma Rich, would meet for off-season practices, conditioning and drills in preparation for the upcoming season.

Those extra hours spent in the summer are showing for the Lady Wildcats, as it only helped build the trust and success that the team is embracing.

“It all comes down to trust,” Seaburn said. “If a girl runs past me, I know Jacqui (Baker) has my back. If Carolyn’s girl gets past her, I have her back. You have to play as a team and as a family, on and off the court. Everybody has a role on the team and once everyone understands what their role is, everything adds up and goes together in the end.”

(Email: AKoob@ncnewsonline.com)
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